MetLife stock posts record adjusted EPS after Q3 growth

MetLife reported record adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. In its earnings release, the insurer said adjusted earnings per share rose 22 percent from a year earlier to 2.85 US dollars excluding notable items, the highest quarterly level in company history.

Adjusted earnings increased 12 percent to 1.8 billion US dollars. MetLife attributed the gain to higher variable investment income, broad-based volume growth and favorable underwriting. Premiums, fees and other revenues rose 12 percent to 14.1 billion US dollars, while adjusted premiums, fees and other revenues excluding pension risk transfers increased 8 percent to 13.5 billion US dollars.

Growth spans the operating segments

MetLife said revenue increased in every business segment. Group Benefits delivered adjusted earnings of 523 million US dollars, while Retirement and Income Solutions generated 413 million US dollars before the exclusion of notable items. The company also pointed to continued international and asset-management growth as part of the quarter's broad operating performance.

Excluding notable items, adjusted return on equity reached 19.6 percent, above MetLife's full-year target range of 15 to 17 percent. The company said the quarter included 46 million US dollars of notable items, primarily related to its annual actuarial assumption review. That distinction matters for investors because the record per-share result was presented on both a reported adjusted basis and an adjusted basis excluding those items.

Capital returns remain part of strategy

MetLife reported net income of 2.4 billion US dollars, or 3.67 US dollars per share. The company also said it returned approximately 1 billion US dollars to shareholders through common-stock dividends and share repurchases during the quarter. Holding-company cash and liquid assets stood at 3.4 billion US dollars at quarter-end, within management's target range.

Chief Executive Michel Khalaf said the results reflected the New Frontier strategy, disciplined execution, solid underwriting, volume growth and higher investment returns. Management said it remained confident in the strategy and was on track to meet its full-year free-cash-flow-ratio and direct-expense-ratio targets.

Shares trade during the US market lead-in

MetLife stock traded at 90.04 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 13:39 CET on Monday, November 9, 2026. Investors can follow the real-time quote of MetLife stock.

The S&P 500 provides the relevant US market backdrop for MetLife investors.

For further company-specific developments, see More news and analyses on MetLife stock.